4 posts categorized "Kobe Bryant"

November 18, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- The Bulls just finished shootaround at Loyola Maramount University and Drew Gooden will start versus the Lakers Tuesday night after aggravating his sore right ankle during Monday's practice back at the Berto Center.

Coach Vinny Del Negro said he'd use the same lineup that started in Saturday's victory over the Pacers, meaning Joakim Noah and Luol Deng will be up front alongside Gooden and Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose will be at guard. What Del Negro wouldn't say is who would start defensively against Kobe Bryant, though Deng has been told he will get the assignment.

Bryant and Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, whom the Bulls face Wednesday, present the first large backcourt challenges since Gordon and Rose began starting together.

November 11, 2007

If some Bulls think the "Kobe! Kobe!" chants are insulting, they wouldn't want to see my in box. In e-mail after e-mail, fans are reaching new creative heights to voice their displeasure. (My personal favorite came from Daniel Brecher, who asked if the Tribune doubled my pay because of what I've had to watch. As far as I'm concerned, Daniel, you're a genius.)

No player is being spared, although Ben Wallace and Kirk Hinrich are leading the league in complaints. Having covered the Tim Floyd era, I feel pretty fluent in wheels-off situations.

The difference, of course, is those teams weren't expected to do well. This Bulls team is. And is now the time to mention the Eastern Conference is vastly improved? In other words, excavating from an early-season hole won't be as easily navigated as seasons past. There are few gimmees in the league this year, especially with the way the Bulls are playing.

As for the upcoming six-game trip, I'm not so sure I agree that it's easier this season. Yes, the Bulls only have four games out West before returning home for some practice days/Thanksgiving and then a continuation of the trip in New York and Toronto. But the Bulls have lost seven of eight on the road against the Clippers and six of seven on the road against the Nuggets. Phoenix is Phoenix. And Kobe might score 70 the way the Bulls are defending.

General manager John Paxson is going to get a lot of answers about individual players' mental and physical fortitude this season. It's unfortunate it took another slow start for those answers to take shape.

November 01, 2007

General manager John Paxson pulled the plug on the Kobe Bryant sweepstakes after Thursday's practice, doing the right thing for a 15-man team that he constructed.

"There's not a deal to be done," Paxson said.

Players and coaches said all the right things before Wednesday's opener in New Jersey about how the Bryant rumors weren't a distraction.

But they were. And now they aren't.

The solution seemed so simple, and give credit to Paxson for recognizing it as such. He did what he had to do to help the Bulls start focusing on the task at hand: winning the Eastern Conference.

There is simply no equal value for Bryant in a trade. And the Lakers weren't interested in conducting a fire sale. So when rumors got out of hand on Wednesday, involving virtually every player on the Bulls' roster, Paxson knew he had to do what he did Thursday.

"It's time to put it to rest," Paxson said. "Today sends a message that our guys don't have to worry about anything anymore."

October 27, 2007

Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com reported Saturday that the Bulls and Lakers are having daily trade talks regarding Bryant, whom many, including me, regard as the best and most dominant player in the game. His report said the Bulls wouldn't part with a package of Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. Others say the Lakers haven't asked for that particular package.

Which brings us to this question: How is this story any different from when Bryant first went public with his dissatisfaction with the Lakers last spring? It's widely known and accepted around the league that Bryant wants out of Los Angeles. It's also widely known that Bryant, the only NBA player with a no-trade clause, has an appreciation for the Bulls after a free-agent dalliance with general manager John Paxson and team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

What's more locally known is that Paxson simply won't mortgage his team for one player. Would he trade for Bryant? Absolutely. But only on his terms. And the Lakers aren't in fire-sale mode on Bryant, at least not as of today.

This is a fluid situation. Could it result in Bryant wearing a Bulls uniform? Anything's possible. But even Sheridan, a respected reporter and solid post-game company, doesn't report any sources with a Bulls-Bryant deal that does work. That's because one hasn't been found yet and may never be.